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The military ban on sirens,
horsewhips
By Sun News Publishing
Monday,
January 5, 2009
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The recent report that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief
Marshall Paul Dike, has banned military personnel from using sirens
and horsewhips anywhere in the country is cheering and welcome.
The CDS, who briefed the press on the issue through the Director
of Defence Information, Col. Chris Jemitola, has observed that the
persistent use of sirens and horsewhips by military personnel to
terrorize civilians is unacceptable in the new dispensation. The
ban becomes imperative considering the fact that the unwarranted
assaults on civilians do not portray the military as a noble and
respectable profession.
Rather than depict the military in good light, the attacks create
negative publicity before the public that the military is supposed
to serve. The CDS also emphasized that the horsewhip is not a part
of military uniform and should not be seen with any military personnel.
However, some military officers were excluded from the ban on the
use of sirens. Those excluded include all the Service Chiefs–
the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of
Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff. The exclusion has a caveat
as these officers were also directed to use sirens only when it
is absolutely necessary.
This move by the military authorities to check some unacceptable
and unbecoming conduct of some of its officers and men is highly
commendable. We believe that the ban, which came on the heels of
the recent assault on one Miss Uzoma Okere by some naval ratings
attached to the convoy of Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade of the Nigerian
Navy, is apt and timely.
It demonstrates that the military is aware of the unbecoming attitude
of some of its men and would readily do something that would portray
the military as a disciplined Force whose existence, in the first
place, is to protect the public against any harm as well as protect
the territorial integrity of the country.
While the public is still awaiting the outcome of the various probes
instituted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack on
Okere by some naval ratings, we commend the CDS for coming up with
these far-reaching measures that would ensure cordial relationship
between the military and members of the public.
We also urge the military authorities to ensure that this ban is
faithfully enforced throughout the country. There is also the need
to ensure that those who flout this regulation are dealt with accordingly.
Military men should not treat civilians like animals. Such use of
brutal force on fellow citizens for no just cause is inhuman and
barbaric.
We also call on the police to borrow a leaf from the military authorities
by banning its men, especially those driving bullion vans, from
brutalizing road users. Apart from the police, all persons in whatever
uniforms, too many in Nigeria, should henceforth desist from using
horsewhips or any other dangerous weapon at their disposal, on defenceless
civilians.
We enjoin those thus treated to seek for legal redress and compensation
from the law courts. The way to prevent a recurrence of the Okere
saga is to adequately punish all those behind the dastardly act.
Anything short of this would embolden others in uniform to do more.
Military authorities in Nigeria should include in their curricula,
aspects of human relations, especially how to relate with the civilian
population in a democratic dispensation, if they have not already
done so. This, we hope will inculcate in them the needed respect
for human dignity and values of members of the public.
Like we said in an earlier editorial on this, let those who indulge
in this inimical and anti-social behaviour understand that this
naked show of power and dehumanization of fellow human beings is
no longer acceptable in a civilized world where the human rights
of every individual is accorded due respect. Nigerian roads belong
to all of us– military and civilians. As we use them, let
all abide by existing traffic rules.
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